N.M. Department of Health Latest Release

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH -- Secretary Alfredo Vigil, MD

For Immediate Release

H1N1 Weekly Media Update: Oct. 21, 2009

Disease Investigation

Novel H1N1 influenza is the predominant strain of flu in New Mexico at this time. All positive flu tests are presumed to be novel H1N1 influenza. The Department of Health is tracking hospitalizations and deaths to determine if there is a change in the severity of the disease. The severity of illness due to novel H1N1 influenza has not changed nationally or in New Mexico from the spring.

Influenza-Like Illness

Visits to healthcare providers for influenza-like illness increased to approximately 20 percent this week, up from approximately 16 percent last week. The percentage of visits to healthcare providers is higher than would be expected for this time of year. The Department tracks influenza-like illness, which is defined as fever and either cough and/or sore throat, at 27 clinics throughout the state. Influenza-like illness is the best indicator of flu activity in the state.

Deaths

The Department of Health is reporting three H1N1-related deaths in the last week in New Mexico. The latest deaths are: a 51-year-old male from Santa Fe County with chronic medical conditions, a 6-year-old female from Santa Fe County without chronic medical conditions and a 47-year-old female from Valencia County with chronic medical conditions.

There have been 16 deaths related to H1N1 influenza in the state. Information about the other deaths is listed on the Department’s H1N1 website at: www.nmhealth.org/H1N1.

Vaccine Information

The Department of Health has ordered 78,600 doses of nasal and injectable H1N1 vaccine. Vaccine is arriving in small amounts and is being distributed to providers and public health offices statewide.

The Department of Health is encouraging the following people who are at a higher risk for developing serious complications from H1N1 to get vaccinated as soon as possible: pregnant women, household members/caretakers of infants less than 6 months old, children 6 to 59 months of age, children 5 to18 years with certain chronic health conditions that increase their risk of complications from flu, and healthcare workers and emergency medical service personnel with direct patient care.

The Department of Health is encouraging people priority groups to call their primary healthcare providers to ask if they are providing the novel H1N1 vaccine. People in the target groups without insurance or a healthcare provider, or whose provider will not offer the H1N1 vaccine, can get the vaccine from a local public health office. Call your local public health office first to check the availability of H1N1 vaccine. Public health offices are listed in the phonebook’s blue pages under state government or online at www.nmhealth.org.

Medical Treatment for Flu-Like Symptoms

The Department of Health is recommending the following people either stay home or seek medical care if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms: people who are experiencing typical, mild symptoms of influenza and are not at higher risk for flu complications should stay home and avoid public places until they are well. Typical, mild symptoms include fever, sore throat, and cough. People who are experiencing typical, mild symptoms of influenza and are at higher risk for complications should call their healthcare provider, a local community health center, or if they do not have a provider, call the Department of Health’s Health Alert Hotline at 866-850-5893 for consideration for treatment with antiviral medications. People who develop severe symptoms of influenza should seek care immediately from the emergency room. Severe symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, dehydration, or decreased responsiveness.

A guide to help people determine when they need medical attention is posted at the Department’s H1N1 website at: www.nmhealth.org/H1N1.

Hospitalizations by County

There have been 468 hospitalizations related to novel H1N1 influenza. The hospitalizations by county are as follows: Bernalillo County (129), Chaves County (11), Cibola County (10), Curry (23), Doña Ana County (33), Eddy County (12), Grant County (6), Guadalupe County (1), Lea County (15), Lincoln County (3), Los Alamos County (1), Luna County (1), McKinley County (43), Mora County (1), Otero County (10), Quay (2), Rio Arriba County (10), Roosevelt County (6), San Juan County (28), San Miguel (1), Sandoval County (19), Santa Fe County (15), Sierra County (7), Socorro County (8), Taos County (15), Union (1), Valencia County (16) and 30 cases where residence has not yet been determined.